The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Tuesday approved Tk 1.15 lakh crore 4th Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Programme, aiming to improve equity, quality and efficiency for gradually moving towards Universal Health Coverage and achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The approval came at a meeting of the Ecnec held at the NEC Conference Room in the city with Ecnec Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a total of nine projects were approved today involving an estimated cost of Tk 1, 230.34 lakh crore. Of the total project cost, Tk 1,4186.77 lakh crore will come from the national exchequer and Tk 18,847.23 crore from project assistance.
The Planning Minister said it approved a project for the 4th Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Programme under Health and Family Welfare Ministry involving Tk 1.1 5 lakh crore.
Of the total cost, Tk 96639.13 will come from the state exchequer while Tk 43486. 36 crore from project assistance, he said.
The minister said the 4th HPNSP is built on the existing achievement to gradually move towards Universal Health Coverage and achieving health-related SDGs during the next five and half years starting from January 2017.
The project was approved aiming to strengthen governance and stewardship of the public and private health sectors, undertake institutional development for improved performance at all levels of the system, provide sustainable financing for equitable access to healthcare for the population and accelerated progress towards universal health coverage, strengthen the capacity of the MOHFW’s core health system and establish a high quality health workforce available to all through public and private health service providers.
Four other projects are development of government secondary schools under the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Department, expansion of science education scope in government colleges under the Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Department, development work of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology under the Education Ministry, establishment of Gouranadi Textile Institute under the Textile and Jute Ministry.
Besides, four more projects approved by the Ecnec are–establishment of mineral processing centre at IMMM of BCSIR, Upgradation of Jessore-Benapole highway, construction of 500 meter bridge over Chengi River on Bagachhari-Nanierchar-Longdu road and establishments of residential buildings for the employees and staff of Postal Department, Dhaka.unb